Mr Modi said that Gujarat, which was the pioneer state to start the first rail track through private partnership, has now entered into the civil aviation sector, and is also in the process of foraying into ship-making and ship-maintenance through private partnership.

Mr Modi said, ''Economic trends are changing across the world.

To meet this challenge, we had to prepare engineers who can manufacture airplanes, pilots who can fly aircraft and managers who can administer the airports -- now a new sector for employment has unfolded for our youth.'' The new centre for air flight training will facilitate our youth to explore aviation related career options, he said.

Mr Modi, while citing a Reserve Bank of India report, said Gujarat is number one in terms of project investments which had provided employment options to lakhs of youngsters in the state.

Meanwhile, Mr Modi said the proposal for an additional air-strip near Shakti-Pith in Ambaji was under active consideration. There are plans to develop air-strips in Mehsana-Disa-Ambaji triangle as well Bharuch-Ankleshwar sector, he said.

The centre for the civil aviation training has been the result of an agreement that was signed during the Vibrant Gujarat Investors Summit 2007 between the State Government and the Amdavad Aviation Association and has been developed on 64 acres of land.